Alan’s News Brief, October 13, 2017

Here is some recent news about my connections.

Please check out these projects and follow the creatives behind them. Congrats to everyone on their accomplishments!

Gillian Scott-Ward’s film “Back to Natural: A Documentary Film” won two awards at the International Black Film Festival Nashville: The Founders Award and Best Poster Award. I was a funder.

Back to Natural is a 69-minute documentary film that reveals the shocking truth about hair politics, and racial identity in Black communities and beyond. Directed by New York City based Clinical Psychologist Gillian Scott-Ward, the film was inspired by the work she was doing in her clinical practice and her own drive to go natural. Executive produced by Marquis Smalls and produced by Dominic Ward, Back to Natural is a powerful call for healing that takes a grassroots approach to exploring the globalized policing of natural Black hair. Filmed in New York City, Philadelphia, Paris, And Cape Town, this documentary explores universal aspects of the Black experience and the “New” Natural Hair movement. Join us on this journey of discovery and enlightenment while celebrating our history and natural styles that are taking the world by storm. – From “Back to Natural” website

Shauntay Cherry’s film “Silent Cries: The Prelude” has been awarded Best Short Film at the Black Underground Film Fest in the Edu-tainment category.

Lex Anthony remembers his father; a failing entrepreneur who began to buckle under the pressures of fatherhood as his son’s 7th birthday approached. – From Heart of David Pictures YouTube page.

Okema T. Moore is a producer on the BRIC TV series “Sole Kings”. Episodes are now available and there will be a new one weekly. Check out the episodes here.

Sole Kings follows the lives of 5 enterprising sneaker enthusiasts hustling their way through the world of sneaker culture, on their quests to define who they are and make a name for themselves in the city’s competitive sneaker game. – From Sole Kings Facebook page

Sharrie Mccain’s film “Sequential Act” is the winner for Best Mystery/Thriller/Suspense in the Short Film category, at the Alternative Film Festival.

Announcing the upcoming documentary film “Raising a Black Scholar”, presented by Dr. Boyce Watkins and directed by Tiara Williams. I am an associate producer.

Tiara is CEO of The Reel Network; I work with her as Co-Producer on The Reel Network.

A provocation of the education system within the United States in relation to racial inequality in which the option of homeschooling is presented to ensure the academic success of black children. – From “Raising a Black Scholar” IMDb page.

And finally, production continues of the second season of Jolie East-Miji’s web series “B-City”. I am an executive producer, and on-set I am the key production assistant. My documenting the production phase is ongoing.

The web series (season 1) has been in the Iconaclash Cinema Review, and a semi-finalist in the Los Angeles CineFest.